ResourceCare’s first ever Carefest is expected to draw several hundred people for a country music fundraiser that will feature 11 different bands during the 11-hour event.

Two covered stages will be set up at the Happy Wife Happy Life venue off of the Cook Field Road this Saturday, Aug. 11.

With a start time of 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon, the event will include not only regional musicmakers, but will offer several food truck options and VIP attractions.

Patsy Cline’s musical legacy lives on in Albany’s 30th anniversary production of Always...Patsy Cline, opening tomorrow at the Aztec Theater for a four performance run.

The historic downtown theater will again provide a choice setting for the highly successful play, which is celebrating 30 years since its creation.

Shows are  slated for Friday, Aug. 10, and Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18, all at 7:30 p.m., as well as a matinee on Sunday, Aug. 12, starting at 2:30 p.m.

Extended downtown shopping and a pool party are planned this evening, with the Chamber of Commerce, local merchants, and Albany churches teaming up for the first annual event.

The back-to-school bash is primarily intended to promote shopping at home, but will also provide some fun for fifth through 12th grade students who are invited to swim for free from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Webb Park pool.

For the second time in less than two years, a raccoon wreaked havoc on Albany’s electrical substation, causing much of Shackelford County to be without power for about four hours.

At about 2:45 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 3, Rocky Parsons and other local AEP employees were called out when electric service failed.

The outage covered almost all of the county, with the exception of the southeast corner that includes Moran.

New teacher bios, along with faculty assignment and school supply lists, are included in the special back-to-school section in this week’s issue.

There are also articles about vaccination requirements, elementary “meet the teacher” night, and orientation for new junior high and high school students.

See Section C for details.

Regular pool hours at Webb Park city pool will end for the summer next Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 14, as the time nears for school classes to begin.

The facility will still be available to rent for private parties through the month of August, with a fee of $125 for a two-hour block.

To book a time slot, call Albany City Hall at 325-762-3133.

Regular Pool Hours

With the start of the new school year just one week from today, any new students who have not yet registered in the Albany Independent School District need to do so as soon as possible. 

Local classes start on Thursday, Aug. 16, with the tardy bells at both campuses ringing at 7:55 a.m.

Administrators are hoping for similar enrollment numbers as last year, although budget figures are conservatively based on less than that.

NSES Registration

New students at Albany High School and Albany Junior High School, including all incoming seventh graders, are urged to attend a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria/snack bar, which is located in the junior high building.

At least one parent is asked to accompany their student to the brief meeting, if at all possible.

The time slot follows the elementary’s “Meet the Teacher” sessions, which start at 5:00 p.m.

A new teacher group orientation meeting for new Albany ISD staff members took place yesterday, Aug. 8 at the elementary school.

The orientation was used to introduce the new employees to the administrators and administrative staff, cover district policies and procedures, and campus rules and regulations. 

Information about available local resources and some technology training was also covered in the group orientation setting.

There are five new classroom teachers plus several support staff members.

Three water fountains, one each at the elementary school, the junior high, and the high school, have recently been replaced with water bottle filling stations, according to school nurse Lisa Russell.

“We are so excited about our three new water bottle filling stations,” the nurse said. “They have refrigerated, filtered water and are great for flu season and throughout the year to keep our students and faculty hydrated. I cannot wait for the kids to see these when they return to school!”